ALVARO ARBELOA EXPLAIN WHY HUMILITY IS KEY TO OVERCOMING GUARDIOLA’S MAN CITY
Alvaro Arbeloa demands humility at the Etihad as Pep Guardiola cancels training before the Champions League decider.
Tomorrow night, Real Madrid and Manchester City will face off for the third time this season in the UEFA Champions League, this time at the Etihad Stadium.
Their first meeting, during the group stage, ended with Manchester City securing a 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, Real Madrid got their revenge last week in the Round of 16 first leg, winning 3-0.
Now, led by Alvaro Arbeloa, Real Madrid aims to protect that lead and secure its place in the quarterfinals.
Talking about the team’s mindset as they prepare for the match, Arbeloa said the goal remains unchanged from the first leg. They want to win, maintaining the same humility and determination, aware that it won't be an easy task. He emphasised that humility and ambition will be key.
He also spoke about the mental angle: Real Madrid knows the challenge they face and the quality of their opponent. To come out on top, they must focus solely on delivering a high-level performance, showing solidarity, effort, and sacrifice, essentially creating significant problems for Manchester City.
Reflecting on the first leg win without Kylian Mbappe, Arbeloa pointed out how impressive it is for a team to compete well without their top scorer, underlining the overall strength of the squad.
Fortunately for Real Madrid, Mbappe will be available tomorrow. Jude Bellingham has been named in the squad as well, although Arbeloa clarified he won’t play. Still, it’s positive to see Bellingham close to returning; the manager believes he’ll be a leader for the team moving forward.
When asked about the possibility of keeping the current 4-4-2 formation after Mbappe’s return, Arbeloa noted that Mbappe brings unique qualities distinct from players like Brahim. He highlighted Mbappe’s intelligence and ability to exploit spaces, expressing eagerness to have him on the pitch.
Since Arbeloa took charge two months ago, there’s been a notable shift toward trusting youth players from the academy and reserves. He made it clear that no player is untouchable; everyone, including Valverde, Vinicius, and Tchouameni, had to earn their spot on merit. The academy youngsters have stepped up impressively, performing at a high level and contributing significantly.
As injured players return, Arbeloa expects to have more options, aiming to consistently field the strongest eleven suited to each match.
Regarding whether matches like this one influence his future at the club, Arbeloa dismissed the idea. His focus is fully on the team and the fans' excitement. He plans to stay as long as needed and enjoy every moment.
Leading up to the game, Pep Guardiola surprised some by giving Manchester City a day off and cancelling training. Arbeloa wasn’t fazed, pointing out that Guardiola is a seasoned manager with nearly a thousand games under his belt. City’s squad know each other so well, they can practically play without thinking.
On Federico Valverde’s role, Arbeloa praised his versatility and current form. Valverde can play anywhere and is thriving, finding the back of the net and enjoying freedom on the field. With Bellingham's and Mbappe’s eventual return, the team wants to keep this strong version of Valverde going.
Lastly, Arbeloa touched on Arda Guler’s performance in the first leg, especially how he was tasked with marking Erling Haaland during set pieces. He admired Guler’s goal against Elche and acknowledged the importance of crowding Haaland defensively. Arbeloa felt Guler did well and is hopeful they can replicate that effort tomorrow.
HOW HECTOR BELLERIN’S 94TH-MINUTE STUNNER PUSHED REAL MADRID TO THE TITLE BRINK
Real Madrid's title hopes faded after a 1-1 draw with Real Betis. Discover the impact of Bellerin’s goal and Mbappe’s injury.
Real Madrid’s La Liga dreams took a big hit Friday night when Héctor Bellerín scored a 94th-minute equaliser, earning Real Betis a 1-1 draw. With that late goal, Madrid now sit eight points behind Barcelona, and if Barça win their next match, they could pull even further away with just a handful of games left.
Madrid actually started strong in Seville. Vinícius Jr took advantage of a goalkeeping mistake and put them ahead early in the 17th minute. After that, Madrid had control for large stretches, but it just didn’t translate into goals. Kylian Mbappé had one ruled out for offside, and Jude Bellingham, along with the rest of Madrid’s attack, missed some big chances. It all came back to haunt them when, in the dying seconds, Bellerín capitalised on the chaos at the back and smashed in the equaliser.
People are talking about Madrid’s defence and not in a good way. They’ve failed to keep a clean sheet for ten straight league games. The last time the backline struggled this much in a single season was way back in 2003-04, when Carlos Queiroz was in charge. This run has cost Madrid dearly, with dropped points piling up right when the title race is heating up.
This result marks Madrid’s fifth league draw this season, another missed chance that opens the door for Hansi Flick’s relentless Barcelona to run away with the title. With their Champions League hopes already gone, Madrid are now staring at what could be just their fifth season without a trophy this century. About the only bright spot? Mbappé made his 100th appearance for the club, becoming just the tenth Frenchman to reach that milestone for Madrid. Still, even that was undercut; he limped off with a suspected hamstring injury about ten minutes from the end.
Honestly, the title now looks like a lost cause. If Barcelona beat Getafe, they will go 11 points clear. Madrid has two tough away fixtures next: Espanyol, then Barcelona in a do-or-die El Clásico that could finish off their title hopes for good. With their form stalling and Barça flying, Madrid now need a minor miracle and a huge Barcelona slip-up to avoid ending this season empty-handed.
JUDE BELLINGHAM’S SURPRISE £1M MINORITY STAKE IN CRICKET’S BIRMINGHAM PHOENIX TEAM REVEALED
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham has bought a £1M stake in the Birmingham Phoenix cricket team. Discover his ties to his hometown roots.
Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid midfielder, just took a surprising step into cricket. He bought a minority stake, 1.2 per cent, worth about £1 million in Birmingham Phoenix, the team in The Hundred. That franchise is split between Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Knighthead Capital, an American investment firm. Knighthead added Bellingham by selling off part of their ownership, which dropped from 49 per cent to 48.4 per cent once he joined.
Bellingham picked up equal shares from Warwickshire and Knighthead, both of whom also co-own Birmingham City Football Club. That’s the team where Bellingham got his start; he came up through the youth squads and made his debut for the first team at just 16. Then he went off to Borussia Dortmund in Germany for a hefty £22.75 million transfer before Real Madrid snapped him up last year for about £88 million.
He grew up in Stourbridge, played junior cricket for Hagley Cricket Club as a teenager, and honestly, he’s loved cricket forever.
“I love Birmingham. I’m so grateful for everything the city’s given me. And I love cricket too, so once this opportunity came up, I didn’t even have to think about it; I just went for it,” Bellingham said, via ESPNcricinfo.
He’s pretty clear about his roots: “I owe so much to Birmingham, Stourbridge, and the West Midlands. I got the best start in football and in life through Birmingham City. I feel like I owe the city. Right now, football keeps me busy, but if I can help in any way, this seems like a great way to do it.”
Warwickshire says Bellingham’s investment means he’ll get involved in community activities and corporate social responsibility projects around Birmingham.
And Bellingham’s big push? He wants kids to get out and play sports. “It’s so important for kids in the city to have that chance,” he said. “Whether it’s football or cricket, I want people to see there are different paths. When I was growing up, I got to choose between cricket and football, but not all kids get that kind of opportunity. If I can help shine a light on something for them, that’s even better.”
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